A.J. Green appeal will be heard Friday
(Updated 9 p.m.)
ATHENS – Georgia’s appeal of wide receiver A.J. Green’s four-game suspension will be heard by an NCAA committee Friday, UGA associate athletic director Claude Felton said.
The appeal will be heard via conference call by a quorum of the NCAA Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, consisting of officials from other schools and conferences.
Asked Wednesday night if he expects a ruling on the same day as the hearing, Georgia coach Mark Richt said: “I can only hope that.”
Green, who didn’t play in Georgia’s first two games, will have to sit out Saturday’s game against Arkansas and the Sept. 25 game at Mississippi State unless his suspension is shortened.
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday the Razorbacks have to prepare as if Green will be on the field Saturday, while Richt said Georgia has approached this week from the premise that Green won’t play.
“And then if it turns out he can play . . . we certainly can use him,” Richt said.
Georgia players say they’re prepared for either scenario.
“Hopefully they come back with a ruling that is favorable and he’ll be out there, but it’s not something you can bank on,” tight end Aron White said. “We’ve been preparing to where if he comes back great, but if he doesn’t we’ve got to still go out and get these games. We’re still the Bulldogs, with or without A.J.”
Cornerback Vance Cuff said a Green return would be “definitely a plus – about five pluses, to tell you the truth.”
The NCAA handed Green the four-game suspension last week for selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000 to former North Carolina football player Chris Hawkins, whom the NCAA considers an agent. In several interviews, Hawkins has said that he bought the jersey as a collector and that he is not an agent.
It also would be against NCAA rules for a student-athlete to sell memorabilia to a non-agent.
In another development, the Morgan County Citizen and ESPN.com reported Wednesday that Hawkins, from Kinston, N.C., was arrested near Madison, Ga., on April 23, 2009, on felony charges of trafficking cocaine and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana. He reportedly has an Oct. 18 court date in Morgan County.
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273 comments Add your comment
Kooter loves Daisy
September 16th, 2010
9:38 pm
all i want for christmas is a new coach
NVdawg
September 16th, 2010
9:57 pm
Let’s also not forget that the NCAA probably still has a grudge against UGA for suing them, winning and taking away their stranglehold over TV rights and regulations. I can’t help but feel a little like this situation is their attempt at a some grudge payback.
Roy Wood
September 17th, 2010
12:53 am
I dont see how anyone from Fla can say anything about UGAs trangressions I heard on ESPN today that UMeyer had 30 since he has been at Fla He doesn punish anyone so not to much is heard about it.I will be glad when the NCAA goes away they have had it in for UGA for a long time >Texas DAWG
JCDawg
September 17th, 2010
3:19 am
The way to stop all of this crap is at the beginning. Require the players to make a decision on the NFL or College in the beginning before entering school. If you pick college No more leaving early—if you leave early you can’t go to the NFL until your class graduates. If they want to declare out of high school, let them go to the NFL and make them forfiet there eligability to play in college. If they do play college have the schools give them some type of yearly income (5000.00) plus there scholarship to help out. The schools make enough on the players. It’s one way or the other. After two or three years of getting there heads knocked off because they lack experience, most kids will go the college route and now you don’t deal with a player leaving early and you get rid of these problem players getting involved with agents. You also need the NFL to help out by banning any agent who tampers with a player prior to his finishing his four year commitment. This could all be stopped if the NCAA, Universities and the NFL really wanted to —guess there’s to much money involved to for any of them to make a real committment and do something right for a change.
Warhorse
September 17th, 2010
3:19 am
UGA should be very concerned that AJ is fooling around with a guy who has been arrested for drug transporting and has been heavily involved in trying to be an agent wannabee. The AJC story reports that Willie Parker, UNC ex, rented the truck used to transport drugs. Parker’s agent was using the guy who purchased Green’s jersey.
How likely is it that this sale of the jersey was the only interaction between Green and the UNC agent and agent-wannabee? It is the only transaction revealed . . . . yet! It will be interesting to learn the rest of the story.
DEP
September 17th, 2010
4:13 am
If AJ is still gone after two more additional games, we still Have K. Durham but for some reason he only plays 3-4 downs catches about 3 or 4 passes for almost 100 yards and never comes back in…why?
tell me again
September 17th, 2010
8:26 am
When receiver Chris Rainey was arrested and charged with aggravated stalking last week it marked the 30th arrest — involving 27 players — in Meyer’s tenure.
Hey – talk about UGA all you want – trouble happens everywhere no matter how hard you try.
Warhorse
September 17th, 2010
8:41 am
The girl is withdrawing the charges against Rainey. We will see if law enforcement officials withdraw charges against AJ’s facebook friend Chris Hawkins, and if more info comes out about AJ’s connections and if his trafficking is only in games jerseys from the esteemed Independence Bowl.
Maybe we should be worried
September 17th, 2010
8:50 am
Maybe the NCAA is dragging their feet on AJ because he was dragging his feet telling them the truth.
meh
September 17th, 2010
8:52 am
the NCAA took their sweet azz time deciding whether not to punish AJ in the first place, now they’re waiting until 2 games in on the day before the 3rd game to hear the appeal. It’s a bunch of horse crap if you ask me. the NCAA can suck it!
Mike
September 17th, 2010
8:56 am
There is one thing that this guy’s arrest 100% proves … he is not an agent. 90 – 95% of agents are lawyers … this guy is definitely not a lawyer. This should work in AJ’s favor as well as the fact that the Alabama player reaped a lot more benefits from the party than what AJ received from the jersey …. not only an all expense paid trip to South Beach … probably had unlimited booze … and young hot lusty cuban babes at his disposal … All AJ got was a grand. I mean … he shoulda went to south beach.
kerryb
September 17th, 2010
8:56 am
Yep, I was right. This Hawkins clown seemed like a piece of garnage and it turns out he is.
Dawg_Central
September 17th, 2010
8:57 am
I think the NCAA needs to change this rule, it’s stupid and dictator..ish. If a kid sells his property….it’s his, not UGA’s or the NCAA’s. UGA doesn’t own these kids. AJ sold his property to make money……nothing wrong with that at all. But the NCAA doesn’t want these kids to do that, because they would lose the money off all the jerseys they are trying to sell. If everyone doesn’t see who the idiots are in this debacle, put on some freaking glasses!!!!
Warhorse
September 17th, 2010
9:04 am
Bet that the guys who are saying there is nothing wrong with taking cash, were the ones lambasting Reggie Bush for the payments while at USC. Logic is an amazing thing.
Concrete Pete
September 17th, 2010
9:21 am
OK folks, I’m not gonna talk about the strength program (oops I just did), but instead the NCAA’s inconsistent rulings. Masoli burglarizes a house on campus, then is driving under the influence of and in possession of weed. He skips out on Oregon to Ole Miss using a complete BS rule, and the NCAA says the rule doesn’t allow for you to use this clause to escape punishment elsewhere. Appeal heard within 24 hrs and reversed! Why? Who knows!
South Carolina: Players getting thousands of dollars in illegal benefits from the hotel. Note the key word “thousands”, not thousand which is what AJ got. Is either act better or worse than the other? No. A broken rule or law is a broken rule or law. Period. The players in question get ONE game. Weslye Saunders would be playing if not for his actions toward coaches outside of the NCAA.
Marcel Dareus, Alabama: KNOWINGLY got on a plane, went to South Beach, checked into a $500 per night hotel, went to a super VIP party all while claiming he didn’t know who was paying for it. Come on dude, you’re a little too old to believe in Santa. Ultimately was suspended 2 games.
AJ: After those 3 aforementioned cases, does the 4 games sound extreme? ALL committed worse acts, and received more benefits that AJ, but he gets TWICE as much punishment? AJ certainly deserves to be punished, but based on the comparative slaps on the wrist that the other cases resulted in, the NCAA is way off with 4 games, a third of the season.
GUILTY
September 17th, 2010
9:28 am
Hope they add another game for his crime.
AJ Green = CrimeDawg
UGAgrad71
September 17th, 2010
9:31 am
The bottom line is money. Minor league baseball allows a reasonably talented right out of high school player to sign for some money (higher rank = more money) and develop their talent. They progress up the ladder Rookie A AA AAA, ect. and the more money they earn. Either colleges should offer something financially (a monthy payment like a stipend perhaps) or a minor league level for teams to go to the NFL as it is done in major league baseball. Thay way, many of the temptations to sell jerseys etc. could be avoided. College should be for those trying to complete an education, not using it as a way station to the pros.
Awful, Awful, Awful
September 17th, 2010
9:34 am
We need a new All Star Team – It’ll be called…….”The All THUG Team”……there are plenty of candidates to choose from.
Burner
September 17th, 2010
9:35 am
If this was the Alabama progra, you’d see a 2 game suspension and a quick hearing and ruling. But it’s Georgia, and a 4 game suspension and slow hearing and ruling is likely. SEC biased to get Alabama & Florida back to the SEC Championship. The refs for the Ga-LSU game got fired last year. It’s just blatant.
ryan
September 17th, 2010
9:48 am
Since Meyer has taken over as coach over 30 arrest so you can’t say its just UGA and CMR look at Notre Dame have a lot players arrested with all bars they have .
PTC DAWG
September 17th, 2010
10:09 am
You guys talking about UF and their arrests…need to look closer, they have many traffic/license violations that would be arrests in Athens Clarke County that are NOT arrests on the books in Florida. They are simply violations. That said, I really don’t want to talk about Florida…
This AJ thing is out of hand. The Ncaa is plainly dragging their feet on it. Not sure why.
Bamafan
September 17th, 2010
10:14 am
Nerd – it is highly doubtful that someone with “dawg” in their screen name is a Bama grad. That logic is more frightening than the occasional misspelling that occurs when posting.
The future
September 17th, 2010
10:15 am
Enter your comments here
The future
September 17th, 2010
10:21 am
These kids think when they do this or that, they are making a “business” decision. Fine. I understand that clearly.
UGA needs to also make a business decision …………they know that AJ will turn pro next January and that Durden is a fine 5th year, hard working senior leader. Fine. Let Durden continue to grow in AJ’s spot.
They also know that Marlon Brown might develop NOW and for the FUTURE …………so groom him for one or two more decent to great years and BENCH AJ. This will show the current under classmen and any “business men” recruits to think long and hard, before they break the rules and hurt the UGA program.
AJ Green will forever be a non person in the UGA football annals …………forever.
One more game killing Ealey fumble and he too can go home to wherever he came from.
Gooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
bruce mac
September 17th, 2010
10:21 am
Same old, same old. Stupid rednecks showing their racist ignorance. If a traffic sitation makes you a Thug then 98% of everyone on this blog is a THUG. Put your sheets away boys and grow some hear on that bald head.
bruce mac
September 17th, 2010
10:22 am
That would be hair not hear.
gomdawg
September 17th, 2010
10:27 am
If a player go’s to the Movie Theater and say I buy them Drink and popcorn there doomed. Bull Shzt
gomdawg
September 17th, 2010
10:31 am
C. King is still hurt let.
Bulldawg Richie
September 17th, 2010
10:34 am
Green made a stupid mistake but a 2 game suspension is enough punishment for his crime. He is being made an example of in light of the Reggie Bush situation. And how long did it take for the NCAA to finally come down on him? They wanted to ignore it.
kevin
September 17th, 2010
10:36 am
He sold a jersey for christ’s sake. Don’t you think it’s ironic/ completely obnoxious that the NCAA suspends a player for 4 games, including 3 conference games for selling a jersey that makes the NCAA millions of dollars. The NCAA needs to stop playing police unless they can punish rules violators sanely and universally. The NCAA should be ashamed, not AJ.
rx-dawg
September 17th, 2010
10:38 am
Warhorse, she is withdrawing charges because she got threatening calls from 1/2 of the gator fans across the country. Nice trying to insinuate AJ has some dealings with the drugs. Care to provide some proof or are you just trolling for a libel/slander charge?
Hale Almand
September 17th, 2010
10:39 am
it’s the dirty dogs in the dirty south, and they play in the dirty SEC…..
gomdawg
September 17th, 2010
10:40 am
The NCAA panel I wonder what school they attended in college look fishy. Who was the last player that had a 4 game suspends.
godawgs678
September 17th, 2010
10:40 am
apparently Chris from the first page never went to college and never went to a party or anything like that. These are normal kids who are away from home for the first time. Everyone makes stupid decisions when they go off to college for the first time. Doesnt mean they are bad people. Learn from your mistakes and just dont make them again
San Francisco Dawg
September 17th, 2010
10:51 am
AJ lied to the NCAA…stop comparing him with other players who received suspensions…If AJ had been smart he would have admited his wrong doing, immdiately…but he did not…I would be surprised if the NCAA cut his suspension…maybe one game but not two..
Dirty Dawg
September 17th, 2010
10:53 am
The NCAA intends to drag this thing out as long as it can cause they don’t really have a ‘precedent’ with a set penalty to fall back on. So they make us and AJ suffer for as long as they can. Face it, his absence, and by no means am I excusing his actions, has cost us a game – you can’t tell me that regardless of how well young Mr. Lattimore ran last Saturday that with Green in the lineup, a lousy 11 point difference wouldn’t have been made up – and along with it any chance to win the SEC East…maybe we never did have one, but now we know for sure. Isn’t that punishment enough for you guys?
So NCAA, make the two-game suspension the penalty for ‘accepting favors’ – cash, trips, entertainment, sale of merchandise (so long as it isn’t as blatant as Reggie Bush and his family) – and let us and the kid get on with what in hell you get paid to watch us do – play football. After all, you don’t seem to mind eye-gouging, accomplice to armed robbery and/or ‘beat-downs’ and hospitalization of a police officer, or even ‘aggravated stalking’ (whatever that is), so draw your line in the sand for stuff that college players have been doing since there have been college players and alumni (every player has had, or at least used to have, his ’sugar-daddy’ that ‘buys’ the player’s game tickets at many-times face value) and get the hell out of the way.
DawgFaceBlues
September 17th, 2010
10:53 am
On the upside, if AJ sets out the full suspensions and we eke out a win against the pigs and the other dogs, then the remaining teams on schedule better beware!
David Granger
September 17th, 2010
10:57 am
I understand why players are not allowed to just sell a jersey (or any other type of souvenir) to anyone…but what is there that makes this Chris Hawkins guy meet the requirements of being considered an “agent”? Is he incorporated/registered as one, or does he have a business license to run an agency?
DawgFaceBlues
September 17th, 2010
11:00 am
Truth be told, Its a conspiracy that he is being held out. Why would they drag out the drama. Face it, ESPN hates us, NCAA hates us. Why? Envy! We got da best college town, best uniforms and the best college football player ever, came out of Athens. And damit, the best fans! Go Dawgs! Lets put the pig in the ground and put some beer on ice!
jj
September 17th, 2010
11:07 am
oh gosh shut up people. he’s not playing get over it…jeez uga fans are freakin annoying
DawgFaceBlues
September 17th, 2010
11:10 am
jj must like being annoyed.
Einsteindawg
September 17th, 2010
11:12 am
Folks, relax and put the NCAA out of your mind. They will be replaced in a couple of years as college football’s (and probably basketball’s, too) governing body by what we now call the BCS. Why? Because of the NCAA’s ineptness and the ability of the BCS to make zillions more money for the top 60 schools. Anyone remember the AAU?
jj
September 17th, 2010
11:14 am
thanks dawgfaceblues…this is what im doing at work…reading blogs and poking at u uga fans
CHECK THIS OUT
September 17th, 2010
11:18 am
NCAA just added one more game to Green’s suspension.
http://www.rivalsdislikesgatoo.com
Saben
September 17th, 2010
11:39 am
If AJ had come to Alabama, he could have got the $1000.00 from our chump change fund.
You folks are just cheap.
"regular" Gonzalez
September 17th, 2010
11:41 am
Men, watch your @$$ going through Morgan Co. It’s a speed trappers paradise. They accused me of 75 in a 45 earlier this year (utter BS), I contested it and still had to pay the full amount despite(in my view, obviously) demonstrating that there was no way. The officer told me he could care less whether I was telling the truth or not and now I know why. Don’t give them an excuse to “tail-grab yo @$$”!
This has been a public service announcement…..
Coach BoBo
September 17th, 2010
11:47 am
Just let AJ serve his sentence and worry about blocking and tackling…
dawgfacedboy
September 17th, 2010
11:48 am
“For three years each player gets to audition for the professional league at his own risk and for no immediate renumeration”
And for those 3 years he gets an opportunity that he would never get if he was just a regular kid. College atmosphere, free education, free food, free room and board (on or off campus), free books, free apparell, free access to world class training equipment and facilities.
If they weren’t football players most of them would be at minimal wage jobs going nowhere fast. Save the sob story.
Retreiver
September 17th, 2010
12:05 pm
Dragging it out and waiting to announce the decision, I think they are keeping UGA on short leash, but I’m not sticking around to wait for an answer… I’ve got to go see a man about a dog….
gcs
September 17th, 2010
12:13 pm
GOTTA win does NOT equal GONNA win.
.